The Colonials have struggled to find the back of the net all season, but Friday afternoon against Robert Morris, GW’s offense was firing on all cylinders.
Behind five points from junior midfielder Garrett Heine, who now leads his team with five goals and two assists, the Colonials downed Robert Morris 4-1 at a home.
“We killed that game within the first 45, with no disrespect to Robert Morris. We caught them early and they started a little slow and we really kind of went for the jugular,” head coach Craig Jones said. “We created chances, and today we converted.”
Heine made his presence known right out of the gate, notching the Colonials’ first goal after just 68 seconds of play. A chip shot over the RMU goalkeeper, and an assist from graduate student defender Matthew Scott, gave GW a quick one goal lead.
Then in the 13th minute, Heine scored again off of a corner kick that curled directly into the far side of the net to put his team up 2-0. Heine, who has a team-high 13 points on the year, recorded his first career multi-goal game Friday.
“We knew [Heine] was capable of that but in his first two years he hasn’t quite put the stats up, but this year we’re getting to see more of that final product. He’s been the most consistent guy for us so far and his hard work and determination has paid off,” Jones said.
And after gaining the quick lead, GW did not take its foot off the gas. Just two minutes later, sophomore forward Christian Lawal received a ball from senior midfielder Eddie Painter in the box and put away a low shot to make it 3-0. The goal was Lawal’s first of the season.
The Colonials put up one more in the 26th minute, when Painter scored GW’s fourth unanswered after receiving a cross from Heine for his second goal of the season.
“We’re just trying to play every game like our backs are against the wall, come out with a lot of energy and intensity and get them on their toes,” Heine said after the three-goal win. “It’s great to start with a lot of energy at home, we come off the kick-off with high pressure and we were rewarded with a goal.”
Robert Morris finally broke the GW shutout early in the second half, putting a header off of a corner kick past senior starting goalkeeper Jack Lopez. GW outshot Robert Morris 17-7 on the day, while Lopez recorded four saves.
The Colonials’ last four-goal game came in a 4-1 over Howard on Aug. 31, 2014, while Heine’s five points were the most by a Colonials since Tyler Ranalli put up seven against VMI on Sept. 14, 2013.
GW concludes its non-conference schedule Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when they take on defending national champion Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
